OPEN AND SHUT CASE (Update)
20 February 2009
Greeks shut down betting shop, then open it...and now shut it again!
Stanleybet's Athens staff can be forgiven for finding
the antics of local law enforcement bemusing - first the
authorities, acting on a complaint by the state
supported OPAP monopoly, closed down the shop and
detained employees. Then the courts seemed confused and
the "suspects" were released and the shop re-opened. But
in the latest news from the Greek capital it appears
that the shop has again been shuttered.
The
problem is rooted in uncertainty in Greek courts about
the validity of running a gambling monopoly in conflict
with European Union principles of free movement of goods
and services between member states. Along with nine
other EU members, the Greeks have been warned by the
European Commission regarding the unacceptability of
excluding companies from other EU nations from the
national gambling market, a course that ultimately could
see them hauled before the European Court of Justice.
Last week (see previous InfoPowa report) the Greek
Council of State - the highest administrative court in
the nation - reviewed the issue at the request of major
EU gambling groups affected by the issue and excluded
from obtaining Greek licenses. The Council of State
recommended that OPAP’s monopoly be referred to the
European Court of Justice and opined that the state’s
refusal to allow EU-licensed sports betting operators to
do business in the country conflicts with EU law.
Online Casino News Courtesy of
Infopowa
More news here.
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